I've noticed that a lot advice around here suggests that if you must give a compliment, you should give it in a backhanded way. And if you must declare how you feel, you should temper it with a bit of humour or something else. To me it seems like a coding process. How to say and do what you want, under a veil of subterfuge. I know this might not be the place to ask, but I'm interested to know if people around here recommend continuing this style of interaction once a relationship with someone has been established. I think people have a desire to bare their soul in front of others, to try as best as they can to show who they really are in the hopes of being truly accepted and therefore truly loved. Do you guys think that that's a fools game, and that you should NEVER abstain from playing "the game"? That you should never give the game away or show your hand? Allowing yourself to appear vulnerable to someone else, would probably be advised against for various reasons, but sometimes there's an overwhelming urge to be as honest, open, frank, clear, and to the point as possible without any sugar coating. An overwhelming urge to just be yourself (as far as possible) and not have to consciously wrap it up in some acceptable package. Thoughts?